Selective Photocatalytic Transformation of Lignin to Aromatic Chemicals by Crystalline Carbon Nitride in Water–Acetonitrile Solutions

Meirou Huang, Huiqin Guo (), Zhenxing Zeng (), Hong Xiao, Hong Hu, Liu He, Kexin Li, Xiaoming Liu and Liushui Yan ()
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Meirou Huang: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Huiqin Guo: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Zhenxing Zeng: College of Environmental Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Hong Xiao: College of Environmental Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Hong Hu: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Liu He: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Kexin Li: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Xiaoming Liu: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
Liushui Yan: Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: The photocatalytic conversion of lignin to aromatic compounds in aqueous solutions is a promising approach. We herein report a crystalline carbon nitride prepared by high-temperature thermal polymerization and alkali-metal molten salt treatment, which was then applied in the selective conversion of lignin to aromatic compounds. The results showed that the tri-s-tri-C 3 N 4 presented a relatively high activity and selectivity for the conversion of lignin in aqueous solutions. In a 95% water–acetonitrile solution, it achieved a relatively high conversation rate of lignin, reaching 62.00%, and the selectivity of the C-C bond cleavage was high, at 86.8%. The characterization results obtained by TEM, UV-vis/DRS, PL, and transient photocurrent response showed that the ultra-high activity of tri-s-tri-C 3 N 4 was mainly due to the improvements in crystallinity and light absorption. Mechanism studies showed that the dispersion of the catalyst and the combination of lignin and catalyst in aqueous solvents with different acetonitrile ratios were the main factors affecting lignin conversion. As the water content in the solutions increased, the primary active sites were converted from h + to ·O 2 − . This study revealed the interactions between lignin, photocatalysts, and reaction solutions, providing a theoretical basis for the photocatalytic conversion of lignin in aqueous solutions.

Keywords: crystalline carbon nitride; photocatalysis; lignin; aqueous solution effect; aromatic compounds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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